The Legend returns

Retro-soul singer John Legend is back with a new CD, "Evolver." He talked to The Associated Press about his mentor, Kanye West, and his British protege, Estelle, who helped shape his latest work.

ON KANYE'S SINGING

"(Laughs) No, I haven't given him any critiques. I'm letting him do his thing. I think him and Auto-Tune are doing just fine together, and I guess I'm out of job now, he's going to be able to sing all of his own hooks."

ON ESTELLE

"We finished Estelle's album pretty much before I even started mine, so I think I actually learned from making her album with her. ... It made me realize that because I wrote the chorus for `American Boy' -- why I can't I write the same kind of chorus for myself over the same kind of beat? So I think it opened me up to different kind of songs."